Wall Street Journal Editorial Board Accuses Trump Family of Unseemly Presidential Profiteering
"Assuming all of this is legal, it's still an unseammly display of using the presidency for family profit. It's hard to believe the Trump boys would be able to do the same deals if dad wasn't in the Oval Office. The main difference between Hunter Biden's foreign dealings and the Trump projects is that the Trumps are brazenly open about theirs."
About this episode
Brian Tyler Cohen examines the unprecedented scale of Trump family profiteering from the presidency, focusing on revelations from the Wall Street Journal editorial board that Trump and his family accumulated over $2 billion in 2025 through cryptocurrency ventures and mineral development deals closely aligned with government decisions. The conservative Journal editorial board published findings showing Trump personally made $1.4 billion from crypto alone, including $600 million from World Liberty Financial, a venture co-founded with his sons that struck deals with foreign entities in the UAE and Pakistan. The editorial board characterized the conduct as honest graft, noting that Trump family investments in mineral development companies consistently preceded major Pentagon financing announcements and government loans. Don Jr. invested in Vulcan Elements three months before it received a $620 million government loan, while Trump reported capital gains from MT Materials after Pentagon investment. The Journal directly compared the Trump family dealings to Hunter Biden's foreign business activities, stating the only meaningful difference is the Trumps are brazenly open about their profiteering. Even Fox News covered the story, unable to ignore reporting from a credible conservative source. Cohen emphasizes the political implications, noting the Journal warned that if Democrats retake Congress, Trump family deals will face extensive investigation through 2028. The episode contrasts the Trump family's massive profits with ordinary Americans still waiting for the lower costs promised during the 2024 campaign, arguing the corruption has become so documented and undeniable that even Trump's traditional media defenders cannot provide adequate spin.
Key takeaways
- Trump made approximately $1.4 billion from cryptocurrency ventures in 2025 according to his 927-page financial disclosure, with nearly $600 million from World Liberty Financial.
- Wall Street Journal editorial board called Trump family dealings an unseemly display of using the presidency for family profit, comparing them to Hunter Biden's foreign business activities.
- Trump family investments in mineral development companies consistently preceded major government financing decisions, including Pentagon stakes and multi-million dollar loans.
- Don Jr. invested in Vulcan Elements just three months before the company received a $620 million government loan from the administration.
- World Liberty Financial struck deals with foreign entities in UAE and Pakistan that may have been attempting to buy influence with the administration.
- Fox News covered the Wall Street Journal revelations despite the network's history of defending Trump, indicating the corruption allegations are too significant to ignore.
- The Journal warned Democrats will extensively probe Trump family deals if they retake Congress, with corruption charges resonating through 2028.